Rep. André Carson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a national strategy for communicating PFAS risks to the public. The strategy must share information about PFAS hazards in land, air, water (including drinking and agricultural water), and consumer products. It also mandates notifying people about how they might be exposed to PFAS and how to reduce that exposure, while consulting states with proven communication approaches. The bill directly affects communities near PFAS contamination sites and consumers using products containing these chemicals.

Maddy summaryThe Small Business Contracting Fairness Act clarifies the definition of a small business concern within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by explicitly referencing the Small Business Act. This change directly affects government contracting programs that use these definitions to determine eligibility for set-aside contracts and other benefits. The bill removes ambiguity by aligning the terminology used in the Infrastructure law with the established definition in the Small Business Act. No new funding or program changes are introduced; the legislation only standardizes existing language to ensure consistent application across federal contracting rules.

Maddy summaryHR 6524, the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act, creates a new federal apprenticeship program to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage by training individuals for cybersecurity roles within federal agencies. The program partners with community colleges, career and technical schools, and other educational institutions to provide training aligned with federal cybersecurity needs. It also establishes a pilot program specifically for veterans and military members transitioning to civilian life, offering cybersecurity training with portable credentials that can be used across the job market. The bill requires coordination with multiple federal agencies and includes reporting requirements to assess program effectiveness and track participant employment outcomes.

Maddy summaryHR 6768, the Public Health Nursing Act, authorizes $5 billion annually (2024-2033) to expand public health nursing services through federal grants to state and local health departments. The bill requires grantees to use funds for recruiting and training registered nurses in underserved areas, covering wages, medical supplies (like PPE), and administrative costs to improve maternal/infant health and chronic disease management. Priority is given to applicants serving communities with high chronic disease rates, maternal mortality, low-income populations, rural areas, or health professional shortage zones. This directly affects public health departments and their ability to hire nurses providing in-person care, home visits, and mobile clinic services.

Maddy summaryThe Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Act establishes a new Office within the Department of Justice to address the disproportionate rates of missing and murdered Black women and girls in the U.S. The Office will collect and analyze data on these cases - including case resolution times, Amber Alert usage, and trafficking links - and create a public dashboard for tracking. It also creates a grant program for community organizations to provide culturally appropriate prevention services, law enforcement training, and victim support. The Office must submit biennial reports to Congress with findings and recommendations to improve the criminal justice response to these cases. This bill directly affects Black women and girls facing violence, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations providing related services.

Maddy summaryHRES 925 is a symbolic resolution recognizing Interscholastic Athletic Administrators' Day on December 14, 2023. It formally supports the annual observance of this day to honor school athletic administrators who oversee high school sports programs, ensure student-athlete safety, and support educational development. The resolution commends these administrators for their leadership and work, and acknowledges the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association as the key organization supporting their profession. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of their role in education.

Maddy summaryThe Rent Relief Act of 2023 creates a new refundable tax credit for renters whose rent exceeds 30% of their adjusted gross income. It directly affects low-to-moderate income renters in their principal residence, with credit percentages ranging from 100% (for incomes under $25,000) down to 0% (for incomes over $100,000). The credit is limited to rent within HUD's fair market rent guidelines, and the IRS will make monthly advance payments starting July 2024 for eligible taxpayers who elect this option. The bill requires no additional tax filing for the credit but includes $50 million for outreach to help eligible households enroll.

Maddy summaryHRES 921 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the 30th anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. It recognizes the program’s work supporting at-risk youth aged 16-18 by providing free, structured education and discipline through a 5.5-month residential phase (covering life skills, leadership, academics, and physical fitness) followed by a 12-month mentoring phase. The resolution highlights that the program, operating in 28 states and territories, has served over 8,000 cadets annually and helped more than 200,000 youth graduate with academic credentials since its inception. The resolution expresses the House’s reaffirmed commitment to the program’s mission of developing character and preparing youth for societal success.

Maddy summaryHRES 904 is a House resolution supporting World AIDS Day goals. It encourages efforts to achieve zero new HIV transmissions, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths by 2030, while commending existing programs like PEPFAR and the Ryan White CARE Act. The resolution also supports continued funding for HIV prevention, treatment, and research, with specific focus on communities disproportionately affected by HIV in the U.S. and globally. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new laws or allocate funds.

Maddy summaryHR 6654, the Farewell to Foam Act of 2023, bans the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene foam food containers, packaging peanuts ("loose fill"), and coolers starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects food service providers (like restaurants and schools), manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who sell these foam products. The bill prohibits selling these items, with enforcement starting with a written warning for first violations, followed by escalating civil penalties ($250 for a second violation, up to $1,000 for fourth+ violations), while exempting small businesses with low annual revenue from repeated penalties within a 7-day period.